Not sure about python or web work, I mainly do C/C++/hardware/Security/Performance. I think Python+web sort of projects would best be charged as a whole or page-by-page / feature-by-feature. ie charge by outcome.
Its hard to build a case for differentiating the value of one JS/Ruby/Python programmers hours against another as the barrier to entry is low without a context.
Where as you can differentiate with a Portfolio of completed projects and indicative prices.
The other thing to look at, is can you convincingly argue 5+ years experience, or is that 5x 1 years experience? (ie doing the same thing for 5 years, versus really having moved up the expert scale).
The question to consider when you sell yourself, what is the lowest realistic substitute the person hiring you could use? How do you contextualize and stratify that decision tree?
> Its hard to build a case for differentiating the value of one JS/Ruby/Python programmers hours against another as the barrier to entry is low without a context.
I agree. One reason I want to move away from this area is this, since the people hiring generally look at technology (Python expertise), not experience as a whole (how many complete products you have under your name). In this regard I have to compete with fresh-from-college kids since anyone can claim doing what I do.
Just bill at least $625/day (cheap!) and take multiple projects. Working in django, it is fairly easy to deliver sufficient value to two clients per week at this rate. Very often they need the same things anyway.
